INSULT SET OFF SHOOTINGS, POLICE SAY

STEVEN GOODE; Courant Staff WriterTHE HARTFORD COURANT

Hartford Police Chief Daryl K. Roberts said Monday that two weekend shooting incidents that left nine people wounded appear to have started with an insulting remark made during a rap routine at a club's open-mike night.

"The rash of shootings come from young people who don't know how to resolve their differences," Roberts said. "Right now we believe it's neighborhoods who have problems with other neighborhoods."

Five people were shot at Club Charisma on Walnut Street early Friday and four more people were shot early Saturday near 83 Greenfield St. None of the injuries were life-threatening.

Roberts said Monday that because the shootings were not random acts and the assailants and their victims knew one another, residents who are "doing the right thing" have no reason to feel unsafe.

Still, he said, the department has redeployed officers to coincide with the late hours in which violent activity has been occurring. Other changes are in the works, he said, including working with police departments in neighboring towns, the state's attorneys office and, possibly, state police.

"We're going to continue to respond," he said. "We want to send a strong message that we will keep the streets safe."

Roberts said the department ranks will be bolstered by a graduating class of 20 officers this week, and that as the weather gets warmer residents can expect to see more foot and bicycle patrols, as well as horse-mounted officers.

"I'm not opposed to using any resources necessary," he said.

Roberts also urged residents to assist police by calling confidential tip lines with information and cooperating with ongoing investigations, and applauded recent raids by the department which led to the seizure of more than 5,000 bags of heroin, 22 grams of crack cocaine, 2 pounds of marijuana and six handguns.